Reliance Industries is in advanced talks to lead a $50 million (approximately ₹430 crore) funding round for Digantara Research & Technologies, a Bengaluru‑based space‑situational awareness startup. This move reflects Reliance’s growing interest in India’s burgeoning spacetech sector.Entrackr
Deal Details & Strategic Intent
According to sources, Reliance would be the lead investor in a round featuring participation from incumbent backers such as Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia India). The funds are intended to accelerate Digantara’s deployment of 12–13 surveillance satellites by 2026, for comprehensive orbital monitoring and defense-grade space tracking services.
Digantara’s Space-Mission Assurance Platform (Space‑MAP) uses sensors and fusion analytics to monitor orbital debris—objects as small as 5 cm—for client agencies in India and the U.S. The fresh investment would support capital expenditure on satellite constellation infrastructure and expansion.
About Digantara & Its Growth Trajectory
- Digantara has already raised around $12 million: a $10M Series A1 led by Peak XV in June 2023, and a $2M follow-on from Aditya Birla Ventures and SIDBI in February 2024.
- The company successfully launched its SCOT satellite, capable of tracking orbiting debris and serving as India’s first commercial SSA satellite. It has existing agreements with defense clients and recently set up an optical observatory in Uttarakhand.
Why This Investment Matters
Strategic Alignment
Reliance’s bet underscores its ambition to enter the space surveillance and defense infrastructure domain, offering sovereign capabilities—a priority amid global geopolitical uncertainty.
Infrastructure Scale-Up
Digantara aims to establish a constellation of 12–13 SSA satellites by end-2026. This capital would be critical for CapEx-intensive physical deployment and launch logistics.
Engineering Intelligence
Digantara’s founders—Anirudh Sharma, Rahul Rawat, Tanveer Ahmed—bring expertise in astrodynamics, space weather, and photonics. Their Space‑MAP service offers analytics blending sensor data from satellites and observatories.Business Standard
✅ Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Investment Planned | ₹430 crore (~$50M) to lead Digantara Series A round |
| Sector | Space situational awareness (SSA), space surveillance |
| Use of Funds | Satellite deployment, infrastructure, software scaling |
| Digantara Funding Till Date | ~$12M from Peak XV, Aditya Birla Ventures, SIDBI |
| Strategic Significance | Marks Reliance’s entry into spacetech/sovereign infrastructure |
